Chance to explore former Doncaster ‘mental hospital’

St Catherines House, Healthcare Trust

Ever wanted to know the history of Doncaster’s St Catherine’s House and St Catherine’s Hospital?

If so, an exhibition of its history is being staged at St Catherine’s House in Balby on May 18. Entrance to the exhibition is free.

The house, which was the former HQ of Rotherham Doncaster and South Humber NHS Foundation Trust (RDaSH), is now part of Flourish Enterprises. The social enterprise, supported by RDaSH, provides work and vocational opportunities to people with mental health needs and learning disabilities who need support to get back into education or employment.

The exhibition, which will be open from 11am until 4pm, together with the neighbouring Victorian Tea Room and Walled Garden, will cover the history of the house from when it was built in 1838, and the history of the hospital from its opening in the 1930’s.

Originally known as St Catherine’s Hall, St Catherine’s was built as the home for the Banks family. The family sold it for a little over £25,000 to the Ministry of Health in 1930 when it was turned into a ‘mental institution’.

An excellent and extremely detailed book of the history, written by Christine Jones, is also available to buy for £4.00 in the Victorian Tea Room or the Walled Garden.

The house can now also be booked for conferences, events and hot-desking for commercial organisations and community groups.